NATURAL DISASTER AND SEVERE WEATHER
Quick Tips: Basic Health Safety
Handwashing
Drinking water
Scrub hands often with soap and water. Then
use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if it is
available. Wash hands:
If your water well has been flooded, it is most
likely not safe to drink.
Before touching food or your face.
After using a toilet.
After touching items touched by flood
water or sewage.
After flood cleanup.
Dry off with paper towels if you have them,
and then throw towels out.
Clean surfaces that hold
food
Do all four steps to clean surfaces:
1. Use soap and warm, safe water.
2. Rinse with safe water.
3. Soak one minute with a mix of one
tablespoon household chlorine bleach in
one gallon of safe water.
4. Allow to air dry.
Food Safety
Do not eat – throw out – food that may be
unsafe:
Food likely to spoil.
Food and containers of food and drink that
may have been in contact with flood water,
including unopened cans and bottles with
screw caps and pop tops.
Food with an odd odor, color or feel.
When in doubt, throw it out!
Use only water from a known, safe source for
drinking, cooking, making ice or baby formula,
dishwashing or brushing teeth.
The safest water choices at this time are
bottles of water you buy at a store or water
boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute.
Local officials may have more information.
Use caution if you use flooded well water for
bathing. Showering is not advised.
Gasoline powered engines
Gasoline engines are used to pump water or
make power. Always use them outside -- never
indoors.
Use gasoline engines away from enclosed
spaces. Do not use in garages, open windows,
doors, vents, or air intakes.
These engines make poisonous gases like
carbon monoxide. This deadly gas has no
odor, color or taste. It can cause illness or
death.
QUICK TIPS:
BASIC HEALTH SAFETY
MDH Environmental
Health flood information
Website: www.health.state.mn.us/floods
MDH Environmental
Health contacts
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/contacts
MDH DISTRICT OFFICES
Bemidji
218-308-2100
Duluth
218-302-6166
Fergus Falls 218-332-5150
Mankato
507-344-2700
Marshall
507-476-4220
Metro
651-201-4500
Rochester 507-206-2700
St. Cloud
320-223-7300
Asbestos
Asbestos and Lead Compliance:
651-201-4620
Email: [email protected]
Websites: www.health.state.mn.us/asbestos
www.health.state.mn.us/lead
Carbon monoxide and
mold
MDH Indoor Air Quality:
651-201-4601 or 800-798-9050
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/air
Cleaning-up and Food
Safety
MDH Food, Pools, and Lodging:
651-201-4500
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.health.state.mn.us/foodsafety
2
Public drinking water
MDH Drinking Water Protection:
651-201-4700
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.health.state.mn.us/water
Wells and well water
MDH Well Management:
651-201-4600 or 800-383-9808
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells
To obtain this information in a different format, call
651-201-5000 or 1-800-657-3908
REVISED: FORMAT
FEBRUARY 2015